Joy Williams

1	It's All Good 3:55
2	No Less 3:51
3	I Believe in You 4:24
4	Up 3:19
5	Touch of Faith 4:02
6	Serious 3:57
7	Home 4:42
8	Second Nature 3:44
9	Better Than I 3:52
10	Do They See Jesus in Me 5:55

Barnes & Noble

Another bouncy teen with pop diva aspirations? Newcomer Joy Williams certainly fits the mold: Her self-titled debut shows off powerful vocals, a slick pop production, radio-ready songs, and a 40-megawatt smile. But give this young singer a closer look. Williams first came to our attention on the Left Behind soundtrack, where her song "I Believe in You" stood out as a refreshing testimony on what was largely a rehash of Christian music hits. "I Believe in You" reappears here, and is given new life as a tender and evocative moment on an album of infectious dance-pop. Vocally, Williams proves she has a sense of nuance -- even on up-tempo numbers like "It's All Good" and "No Less," both of which in the wrong hands could easily be turned into sugary ear candy. Williams instinctively puts the emphasis on these songs' meatier elements, demonstrating that this is an artist of substance. We've seen plenty of teen popsters come our way in the past year, but Williams is something different -- a teen singer with maturity. Joy to the world, indeed. Lisa Zhito

All Music Guide

Much of contemporary Christian music these days bears the stamp of its Top 40 counterpart, only with lyrics aimed upward rather than inward. Dan Muckala's Max Martin-like approach to "No Less" and "Serious" on this solid debut is proof of this trend. Ditto Dennis Patton's crazy stuff on "Second Nature." All good songs, but the one drawback to this is that the sonics often get in the way of the CCM singers, who tend to have a little more to offer vocally than Britney Spears. Count the 18-year-old Williams -- almost as cute as Spears, if less obviously so -- as yet another strong, young Amy Grant heir apparent in an increasingly crowded field. Her vocals are strong enough to survive the technical intensity of most of these tunes, which is important because her messages, simple though they are, convey the essence of faith and moral living to young, impressionable listeners. You have to wait until track ten to hear Williams' true plaintive ability to communicate to both her listeners and Jesus. "Do They See Jesus in Me" is a gorgeous ballad that lets us know Williams can easily survive with little more than a piano and a desire to communicate the Gospel. Her handlers would be well-advised to let this shine even brighter in the future. Jonathan Widran